Sectional sign



(No Model.)

W. P. MOKENNA.

SECTIONAL SIGN.

Patented Jan. 19, 1886.v

N. PEIERS. Phumulhogmpher. washingmn. DA C IINrTED STATES VPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. MOKENNA, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SECTIONAL SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. S34-,602, dated January 19, 1886.

Application tiled June 4, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM P. MoKnNNA, of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sectional Signs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates tov certain new and novel improvements in signs; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction of the sign in sections secured within a sectional or folding frame, all constructed and arranged as more fully hereinafter set forth. Signs of this class are generally painted upon a plate of glass, and are designed to be hung in the display-windows of stores and other places, and are usually gotten up in neat and attractive forms, producing what are termed illuminated transparent signs.7 When a sign thus made is broken, it cannot be repaired or replaced, except an entire new sign is made, and at considerable expense.

It is the object 'of my invention to construct a sign the letters and sections of which can be removed for repair, or their positions changed for the purpose of producinga different design than that of the iirst as originally put together. In order to do this, I must first arrangea sys' tem of letters, designs, numbers, and blanks that can beinterchangeable, each style within itself. To illustrate, I will say that I wish to make the sign shown in the accompanying drawings. The letters are all capitals of dit'- ferent sizes, or three sizes, each letter of which is painted upon a piece of rectangular glass, each piece being of a uniform size for each style of letter,while the borderand ornamental spaces are likewise painted upon pieces of glass adapted to be used in connection with some particular size of letter.

Figure l is an elevation of a sign built up in sections upon my improved plan. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective showing one end of lthe frame and the hinges for securing the corners thereof together. Fig. 4 is a section through the hinge at the upper corner of the frame. Fig. 5 isa section through the two parts of the same hinge detached. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a section of the retainingbars.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specicatiomA represents the frame, the bottom and two end bars of which are hinged together by the hinges B, which are so constructed that they cannot close beyond lines at rightangles to each other. The upper corners ofthe frame are hinged together by a hinge,C,which consists of two wings,a b, the latter of which is provided with two separated ears, c, through which a pintle, d, passes, and arranged to engage with the hook or slotted ear e ofthe wing a.

To the part a is pivotally secured a plate, D, the free end of which is designed to engage with the slots h, formed in the edges of the ears, and which' come coincident with each other when the two parts of the hinge are engaged and the frame closed. This securely holds the top bar of the frame in its proper place against accidental displacement.

Upon the inner edges of the bars of the frame I cut a channel or groove, z', designed tol receive the ends of the retaining-bars E F, which are constructed of strips of metal bent into a U shape with their backs presented and secured rigidly together in pairs in any convenient and substantial manner, thus forming a retaining strip or bar with a groove or channel ,upon two opposite faces. The hars F, or those designed to occupy a vertical position in the frame, should be made somewhat smaller than the bars E.

Having determined upon the size of the sign to bemade, I select the frame suitable therefor and place it in any convenient place and position, and then begin to build up the sign from the sections of letters, spaces, and designs. For example, referring to the drawings, the corner-ornaments are rst inserted, engaging with the grooves in the rails of the frame. Two pieces of vertical retaining-bar arethen inserted next to the corners, embracing the inner edges of the ornaments. Then suitable lengths of border-filling are inserted in one or more strips, as may be desired. Over this line of border thus formed is placed alongitudinal retaining-bar, E, embracing the upper edges of the sections and vertical retaining-bars, forming the bottom line of bor- ICO der. This manner of building up7 is proceeded with in each successive line until the desired sign is produced and all inelosed within an ornamental border. The top rail ofthe frame is now put in position, the two parts of the loclrhinges C engaged with each other, and secured to place by the loekingplates D, as hereinbefore described.

It will readily be seen that a sign constructed after this manner can easily be repaired, should one or more of the letters or sections he broken, without being compelled to pur- Chase an entirely new sign. as the owner can ship to the manufacturer or party from whom he purchased the sign the broken parts of letters or ornamental parts, who, having the various styles in stock, can return a perfect letter to the customer, which can readily be inserted in its proper place in the sign.

rlhis sign, being designed to hang in a window, is not all'ected by lrost, and is easily removed and replaced in position when cleaning, or changed to another store when place of business is changed.

It is proposed to make hundreds ofthe various styles of letters, ornaments, Sie., from the same pattern, and, as the painting is all hand-work, a great durability to the tinish of each letter is assured, while the sign as complete is of sufficient rigidity to allow it to be sal'ely handled without fear of breaking.

No claim is made herein to the specific construction of hinge herein shown and described, as the same may be made the subject-matter of a separate application.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is l. The combination, with the frame hinged together at its corners and having groove t', of the removable horizontal retaining-bars E, having grooves upon two opposite faces, the vertical bars F. and interchangeable sections of' glass, upon each of which is painted a letter, design,or number and held in position by said bars, as set l'orth.

2. A sectional sign constructed substantially as described, in combination with the frame hinged together at its corners, one or more sides of such frame being arranged to he opened or removed for giving :ucress'to the sections ot' which the sign is composed and the grooved retaining-bars removably secured in said frame, substantially as described.

WILLIAM l. MCKENNA.

W'i tnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, E. G. SCULLY. 

